Lance Bass
The Mississippi-born bass vocalist who helped pilot NSYNC to global fame before venturing into space and activism.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American singer and actor·Birthday: May 4·Generation X
Biography
Lance Bass emerged from the synchronized dance routines and harmonies of the late-90s pop explosion as the steady, deep-voiced anchor of NSYNC. Hailing from Laurel, Mississippi, his journey from church choir to one of the world's biggest boy bands was a whirlwind of record-breaking tours, iconic music videos, and teen idol mania. After the group's hiatus, Bass deliberately charted an unconventional course. He trained as a cosmonaut, coming heartbreakingly close to becoming the first pop star in space on a 2002 mission that was ultimately scuttled by funding. He later became a producer, podcast host, and a prominent, vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, coming out publicly in 2006. His trajectory reflects a man who experienced peak fame young and has since spent decades redefining himself on his own thoughtful, often surprising terms.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Lance was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lance Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Lance's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Sold over 70 million records worldwide as a member of the pop supergroup NSYNC.
- Trained extensively in Russia to be a cosmonaut for a mission to the International Space Station.
- Produced the award-winning documentary 'The Boy Band Con: The Lou Pearlman Story' (2019).
- Became a New York Times bestselling author with his memoir 'Out of Sync' (2007).
Did You Know?
He is a certified scuba diver and has participated in underwater archaeological expeditions.
Bass is a passionate advocate for space exploration and sits on the board of the National Space Society.
He and his husband, artist Michael Turchin, were the first same-sex couple to have a wedding televised on a major network (E! in 2014).
““I went from singing in a boy band to almost going to space. Never let anyone tell you your dreams are too big.””
